The Developmental Theory

Psychology has been used by scholars for various reasons. In mental health and health sciences in general, Psychology is beneficial in helping medics treat or rather formulate a care plan for patients. In particular, the theory of psychology can be used, and often used by nurses come up with various ways of treating patients or coming up with a program of nursing care. Thus, this essay looks at two important theory in psychology and its benefits or rather how they can aid in coming up with a nursing care plan. In addition to that, the essay elaborates further by proving a case study of a patient that has mental issues and how one can apply the theory in psychology in formulating a nursing care plan. Precisely, the two theories that are going to be used in this case study are developmental theories and psychoanalytical theory. The essay will look at the broader perspective of the two theories and how one can deduce a nursing care plan for the same. It will also have a case study of an old person suffering from depression who seeks medical attention for his condition.

According to these theories, they subscribe to the notion that growth and development are continuous and tend to be complex. In addition to that, they embrace the notion that growth and development are based on timing and in a certain pattern that characterizes developmental sequence (Allingham, 2015). In addition to that, the theories suggest that in matters of growth, the genes are in charge; however, the environment plays a significant role in influencing growth and development of human beings.

Some factors influence growth and development. They include disease, environment, nutrition, stress, and neuroendocrine, socioeconomic and critical periods especially in phases that take long. Developmental theories are important in nursing in many ways. Firstly, they educate the nurse that development of self-concept is a process that takes a lifelong (Burman, 2016). Also, the theories aid nurses to recognize what can be termed as normal and what can be termed as not normal in a given patient.

About self-concept, the nurse takes note on the body image of a person, the self-esteem that the patient possesses and the identity that he or she portrays. About the components and interrelated terms of self-concepts, nurses look at the identity of a person, the performance of his or her role and the body image. It is essential that one defines the meaning of the three concepts (Butcher et al., 2013). To start with body image, it denotes the attitude that is related to structure, physical appearance, and function. On the other hand, in regards to role performance, it relates to how people perform their duties. Lastly, is the identity which, according to developmental theories and their role in nursing, can be defined as the internal sense of individuality, consistency of self and wholeness (Chinn, & Kramer, 2013).

Some stressors affect self-concept. One can categorize them into various groups. Under the same categories of stressors, body image stressors, this can be categorized as surgeries, chronic illness and lastly, stressors that result from role performance (Corey, 2015).

Psychoanalytical and Developmental Theory

Lastly, there is the effect of family on the role of self-effect during the development of a child. It is worth noting that families play a crucial role in the growth and development of a child. To illustrate this, it is important to mention that children tend to learn their first basic sense regarding the person they are from the family (Sharf, 2016). According to the theory of development, it tends to suggest that strong parental monitoring and support create positive effects. Thus, both cultural and family influences can either be positive or come along as negative.

There are three main developmental theories; these are interpersonal, psychosocial and psychoanalytical theories. Thus, below is a discussion of each one of them and how they help nurses develop a care plan. Psychoanalytical, this one deals with personality. People character, emotional, behavioral and mental traits are not the same and tend to be unique to each person. This theory developed by Sigmund Freud can help nurses develop a nursing care plan by analyzing development by stages. According to the theory, from birth to the age of 18 months, the behavior of a child is largely dictated by Id and aim of having the gratification of the needs (Cowden, & Cummings, 2012). At this point, the child feels more of a sense of attachment and is not in a position to differentiate the individual offering the mothering from the self. It may include some feeling of anxiety. According to Freud, as a result of the inability to differentiate, a bad feeling of anxiety may be transmitted onto the child making him or her prone to the same feelings of insecurity (Dossey et al., 2012). The second stage is the Anal stage, which starts from 18 to 3 years. The major significance in this stage, according to Freud, is a person gaining control and independence. In his elaboration, Freud used a toilet training to demonstrate this concept. In his analysis, he suggests that if training is strict and rigid, the child may become destructive, disorganized and malevolence (Dunphy et al., 2015). On the other hand, the training that appears to be permissive will encourage the child to be productive, extroverted and altruistic. The third stage in this theory is from 3 to 6 years where Freud trusts that a child oblivious want to take out the parent of a similar sex and to have the parent of the inverse sexual orientation for himself or herself. Subsequently, blame emotions result with the rise of the superego in these years. It happens when the child creates a solid ID with the parent of a similar.  The fourth stage is the Latency Stage which takes place from 6 to 12 years. In these years, the concentration changes from egocentrism to one of more enthusiasm for assembling exercises, learning, and socialization with peers (Elliott, 2015). Children demonstrate inclination for people with the same sex while not ready to form bonds with those from other sex. The last stage in this theory is the genitalia stage, at this stage; the emphasis is on associations with individuals from other sex (Grol et al., 2013).

How Psychoanalytic Theory Helps in Nursing Care Plan

Learning about the structure of the identity can help medics who work in mental health centers. The capacity to perceive practices related with the id, the personality, and the superego aids in tackling patients with mental health complications. Understanding the utilization of personality barrier instruments is essential in making judgments about maladaptive practices (Gross., 2015).

 Erickson examined the impact of social procedures on the improvement of the identity. He depicted eight phases of the life cycle amid which people battle with formative “emergencies.” The first stage takes 18 months and here, the child tries to, building up an essential trust in the mothering figure and having the capacity to sum it up to others. Secondly, the second stage proceeds to 3 years, and the child tries to increase some discretion and freedom. Thirdly, is late childhood, taking 3 to 6 years, here, the child builds up a feeling of reason and to exercise what he or she thinks (Karel, Gatz, & Smyer, 2012). After this stage, the next one starts from age 6 to age 12, the child to accomplish a feeling of fearlessness and accepting acknowledgment from other people, for instance, peers, and associates. In addition to that, as from age 12 to 20, the child needs to incorporate the experiences of past stages into a protected feeling of self. According to the theory, as from age 20 to 30, need to frame an extreme, enduring relationship or a promise to someone else starts being demonstrated by the person as in looking for a mate. Age 30 to 65 is characterized by trying to accomplish the life objectives built up for oneself and considering the welfare of future generations (Lichtenberg, Lachmann, & Fosshage, 2016). Lastly, when a person is above 65 years, he or she starts to survey his own life and determine its significance from both positive and negative perspectives (Karel, Gatz, & Smyer, 2012). As in nursing, or rather in the nursing profession, there is a lot that one can derive from the theory. Below is a discussion on its application as far as formulating a nursing care plan is concerned.

Erikson’s hypothesis is especially pertinent to nursing practice in that it consolidates sociocultural ideas into the advancement of identity. Erikson gives an efficient, stepwise approach and demonstrates what people feel or tend to program them as a requirement in living a complete life. This data can be utilized promptly in mental health and nursing care planning (Mitchell, & Black, 2016). Patients with psychological problem have problem in achieving things that they need to achieve in each stages. Health care professionals can design care to help these people with these conditions and proceed to life a comfortable life without constants depression.

Like the other theories stated above, it has various stages that can be used to analyze development of person’s personality which can be applied in a nursing care plan. The first stage is infancy, which takes place from birth to 18 months; this stage is characterized by the child showing the need to accomplish tasks (Paley, 2014). This is experienced or rather demonstrated through action related to the mouth, for example, crying, nursing, and thumb sucking. Then, there is the next stage that starts from 18 months to 6 years, as the child ages, one year and a half to 6 years, the child discovers that obstruction with the satisfaction of individual wishes and wants may bring about deferred delight (Townsend, 2014).

Erickson theory of development

 The child’s next stage starts from 9 and extends to age 12. In this preadolescence stage, the child’s concentrates on creating connections with people of similar sex (Rice, 2012). On the other hand, there is the next stage that starts from age 12 and extends to 16; it is called the early adolescence stage, where the child is battling with building up a feeling of character, which is unique and free from the guardians (Walton, 2014). Also, she or he feels the need to form associations with individuals from different sex.

Lastly, there is the late adolescence stage, starting from 14 to 21; the period is portrayed by endeavor to accomplish relationship inside the general public and association with an individual from different sex (Ryckman, 2012).  The genital organs are the major indicators of this stage. As far as nursing care plan is concerned, this theory can be used to come up with many ways that a nurse can develop or rather come up with a nursing care plan.

 Firstly, medics can create restorative associations with patients with an end goal to enable them to sum up this capacity to connect effectively with others (Sartre, 2015). In addition to that, learning about the practices related to all levels of nervousness and strategies for reducing uneasiness causes medics to help patients accomplish reduce feelings of insecurity and depression. Besides, medics utilize the ideas of Sullivan’s hypothesis to enable patients to accomplish a higher level of free and relational working.

Mr. Mark is an old man aged 71 who is divorced and lives alone. He lost most of his properties to his wife whom he has since divorced. Most of the traits that he posse as a person is that, he are rude and appears to be grouchy. However, he notes that people often say that he appears fed up with life, isolated and disorganized. Since the divorce, his children decide to leave with their mother. In addition to that, he does not have parents, since his parents died while he was young and has been living with his aunt, a person he describes as hostile. It becomes difficult to please him despite the many attempts that one tries to advance to him, for instance, jokes or even trying to tease him on upcoming parties. For the last two years, people have been stating that he suffers from the divorce and needs space. About two months ago. He started a foundation to help the sick but closed it due to inadequate funding. He admits that he suffers from depression.  As a nurse, one tries to look at the history of Mr. Mark to determine the reason behind his personality trait. On further examination, it becomes clear that Mr. Mark lost one of his children and his wife cheated on him with one of his closest friends. Thus, about nursing care plan, one can use the theories to deduce various nursing care plan.

Need	Goal	Nursing Intervention	Reason for intervention	Goals Review Date
Reduce depression	I need not to depress myself.	Encouragement of one to count his blessings more than his failures.	Depression	After one month
Improve his social life and organization.	I need to be organized and socially active.	Make a timetable for interacting with people, also, learn how to organize things.	Making friends, attending social interactions and Organization.	After one month.

Conclusion

Thus, a psychoanalytical and developmental theory is useful in the nursing care plan. In particular, the theories consist of various stages of a person growth and development, and it is through this stages that can be monitored and analyzed to help nurses come up with a good nursing care plan. Precisely, through the method, nurses can form the framework for describing, appreciating and examining development. Also, they need to use positive and apply fact in their approach. In relating to the client or rather patient, the theory has demonstrated how nurses need to build a trusting relationship with patients. The theory also helps the nursing care plan to identify or rather analyze moral reasoning in evaluating and formulating the best approach for a care plan. The essay had demonstrated what nurses need to look at in assessing patients, which include but are not limited to family history, substance abuse, occupational or environmental forces and lastly, personal habits. These are some of the many ways that the theories find their usefulness in a nursing care plan.

References

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